First Door on the Left

It is fun to see how some on the right rationalize their support of the Federal Marriage Hate Amendment. They don’t want to appear bigoted or discriminatory, so they make all kinds of stuff up. They don’t hate gays, they just oppose “activist” judges; etc. etc.

Cap’n Ed makes his “argument” thusly…

What matters to me is that decisions about the nature of public policy get made in a democratic fashion. Marriage is a public recognition of a legal status between two people, and the public has the right and responsibility to define that as they see fit. The lack of a marriage option does not mean that the government has banned gay relationships, but that public policy decided by the people or their representatives choose not to bestow any legal recognition to the relationship. Laws defining marriage at the “one man, one woman” standard do not intrude into the bedroom, but do define how the government chooses to recognize relationships, and that decision belongs to the people.

I could not disagree more.

To me, this is a matter of civil rights. Nothing more, nothing less. A segment of our population, however small it may be, is being denied the rights and privileges enjoyed by the rest of our population. This is no different than a “Whites Only” sign above a drinking fountain in the 1950s. Now we have a “Heterosexuals Only” sign above the rights and privileges conferred by our government through the rite of marriage.

This is not a decision that belongs to the people, any more than the decision to end discrimination against blacks belonged to the people in the 1960s. If the people, or the states, had been allowed to make that decision, there is no doubt in my mind that “Whites Only” signs would still be in existence today in several states (Alabama and Mississippi are the first to come to mind).

We should be discussing a Federal Marriage Amendment today, but it should not be an amendment banning gay marriage… it should be an amendment guaranteeing that every American be entitled to the same rights and privileges. Discrimination and bigotry have no place in the United States of America in the 21st century.

Many on the right argue that it is important that this vote be held in the Senate so we will know where our representatives stand on this issue. In this, we agree. It is important that the citizens of the United States know which of their representatives support discrimination and which do not. We need to know which of our representatives are worthy of continuing to represent us.

Senator Edward M. Kennedy writes:

GOP says ‘I do’ to bigotry…

It’s no wonder that the American people are frustrated with the Republican Congress. Americans deserve progress, but instead are bombarded with politics driven by fear and division. They deserve action on the challenges we face as a nation - an endless and costly war in Iraq, skyrocketing gas prices and soaring health-care costs. Rather than dealing with real priorities, the Republican leadership is focused on writing discrimination into the Constitution.

Just like the circus surrounding the Senate’s effort to intrude into the Terry Schiavo case, today the Senate will begin debate on the Federal Marriage Amendment - a wholly inappropriate effort to override state courts and to intrude into individuals’ private lives and most personal decisions.

This so-called Federal Marriage Amendment should really be called the Republican Right Wing 2006 Electoral Strategy Amendment because it is more about rallying an extreme base to vote than about solving a problem. Proponents use fear tactics and claim that marriage is under attack by activist judges. That’s simply not true. The country is divided over gay marriage; within the laws of each state, there is ongoing debate in which Congress should not intervene. A vote for this amendment is a vote for bigotry - pure and simple. A vote for it is a vote against civil unions, against domestic partnerships, and against efforts by states to treat gays and lesbians fairly under the law.

It’s a vote to impose discrimination on all 50 states, denying them their right to interpret their own state constitutions and to pass their own state laws.

The proposed amendment is inconsistent with our values and our humanity. Americans believe in tearing down the walls of discrimination and inequality, not creating new barriers for civil rights. For our entire history, each state has been able to address marriage and family law matters as each state sees fit. This tradition has allowed different states to choose different paths, and for many states to accept - and even celebrate - the love and commitment between so many couples and their families, regardless of sexual orientation.

I’m proud that Massachusetts continues to be a leader on marriage equality for our citizens. We recognize that being part of a family is a basic right, and I look forward to the day when every state - and every senator - accepts this basic principle of fairness. Marriage is a solemn commitment to plan a future together, to share in life’s celebrations, and be a source of comfort easing life’s burdens and pains. Gay and lesbian couples deserve the same rights as married couples under state law, including the right to be treated fairly by federal tax laws, to share insurance coverage, to visit loved ones in the hospital, to have health and family-leave benefits, and the many other protections that only come with marriage.

Emphasis is mine.

Marine’s Father Sues Funeral Protesters

The father of a Marine whose funeral was picketed by anti-gay protesters from a fundamentalist Kansas church filed an invasion-of-privacy suit against the demonstrators Monday.

It is believed to be the first lawsuit brought by a soldier’s family against Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kan., whose members routinely demonstrate at military funerals around the country.

Albert Snyder of York, Pa., the father of Lance Cpl. Matthew A. Snyder, is seeking unspecified damages. The younger Snyder, 20, died March 3 after an accident in the Al Anbar province of Iraq. He was buried in Westminster, Md.

“We think it’s a case we can win because anyone’s funeral is private,” Snyder lawyer Sean Summers said. “You don’t have a right to interrupt someone’s private funeral.”

Members of Westboro say the military deaths in Iraq are God’s punishment for America’s tolerance of gays. They typically carry signs with slogans such as “God Hates Fags” and “Thank God for IEDs,” a reference to the roadside bombs used by insurgents.

Good for Mr. Snyder! I hope he wins and is awarded millions and millions and millions of dollars.

The Westboro Baptist Church could probably cop an insanity plea and get away with it, however.

Westboro Baptist Church members

Why would a report on the Texas Republican State Convention appear in the Religion section of the Dallas Morning News?

GOP buttons on their shirts and faith on their sleeves

SAN ANTONIO – Lt. Col. Brian Birdwell offered a greeting to delegates to the Republican convention. “It’s great to be back in the holy land,” the Fort Worth native said to the cheers of the party faithful.For the 4,500 delegates at last week’s biennial gathering, it was both an expression of conservative philosophy and religious faith, a melding of church and state.

At Saturday morning’s prayer meeting, party leader Tina Benkiser assured them that God was watching over the two-day confab.

“He is the chairman of this party,” she said against a backdrop of flags and a GOP seal with its red, white and blue logo.

The party platform, adopted Saturday, declares “America is a Christian nation” and affirms that “God is undeniable in our history and is vital to our freedom.”

“We pledge to exert our influence toward a return to the original intent of the First Amendment and dispel the myth of the separation of church and state,” it says…

At Saturday morning’s prayer meeting, ministers delivered prayers, gospel singers sang, and the Rev. Dale Young, pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Laredo, picked up the convention’s dominant theme of immigration.

“Lord, your words tell us there’s a sign that this nation is under a curse, when the alien who lives among us grows higher and higher and we grow lower and lower,” he preached.

The night before, East Texas evangelist Rick Scarborough exhorted Christians at a “values rally” to get involved in elections: “We must do more than pray. We also must put sweat to our tears.”

Because that is where it belongs.